Camera and image pick-up device unit having an optical member that is vibrated to remove dust

• US 7,280,145 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawai, Sumio, Takizawa, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Ngoc-Yen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bemben; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/303,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 348/374, 348/342, 348/340, 257/433
• US Class Current: 348/340
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/811 by dust removal, e.g. from surfaces of the image sensor or processing of the image signal output by the electronic image sensor

Abstract

A camera is provided that includes a dust-proofing member which has a transparent portion through which a visible light component is transmitted among beams incident from a photographing lens and which absorbs an infrared component, opposed to the front of an image pick-up device at a predetermined interval. A member for vibration is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, and applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member. And a sealing structure portion is arranged at a portion formed by opposing the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member, for sealing a space portion that is substantially sealed at peripheral portions of the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a photographing lens which inputs a subject image;

an image pick-up device which comprises a photoelectrically converting surface, and which produces an image signal corresponding to beams of the subject image irradiated onto the photoelectrically converting surface;

a dust-proofing member which is interposed between the photographing lens and the image pick-up device, and which comprises a transparent portion through which a visible light component is transmitted among beams of the subject image input by the photographing lens to the image pick-up device, the transparent portion being opposed to a front of the image pick-up device at a predetermined interval;

a vibration member which is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, and which vibrates the dust-proofing member approximately at a resonance frequency;

a sealing structure which seals a space between the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member;

an image signal processing circuit which converts the image signal produced by the image pick-up device into a signal suitable to recording; and

an infrared reflection layer provided on a light-incident surface of the dust-proofing member.

2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the infrared reflection layer is provided on the dust-proofing member on a side facing the photographing lens.

3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the dust-proofing member comprises an infrared absorbing glass and the infrared reflection layer is provided on a surface of the infrared absorbing glass.

4. The camera according to claim 3, wherein the infrared reflection layer is provided on the infrared absorbing glass on a side facing the photographing lens.

5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the dust-proofing member has a low-pass filter function which limits transmission of a high spatial frequency component.

6. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a photographing lens attaching unit for attaching the photographing lens,

wherein the photographing lens is detachable from the photographing lens attaching unit.

7. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the dust-proofing member comprises an infrared absorbing glass.

8. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the dust-proofing member is formed by adhering an infrared absorbing glass to a glass plate.

9. The camera according to claim 8, wherein the infrared absorbing glass is arranged on the dust-proofing member on a side of the sealed space.

10. An image pick-up device unit comprising:

an image pick-up device which comprises a photoelectrically converting surface, and which produces an image signal corresponding to beams irradiated onto the photoelectrically converting surface;

an optical member which is opposed to a front of the image pick-up device at a predetermined interval;

a vibration member which is arranged at a peripheral portion of the optical member, and which vibrates the optical member approximately at a resonance frequency; and

an infrared reflection layer provided on a light-incident surface of the optical member.

11. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 10, wherein the optical member comprises an infrared absorbing glass and the infrared reflection layer is provided on a surface of the infrared absorbing glass.

12. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 10, wherein the optical member has a low-pass filter function which limits transmission of a high spatial frequency component.

13. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 12, wherein the optical member comprises an optical low-pass filter.

14. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 12, wherein the optical member is formed by adhering an infrared absorbing glass and an optical low-pass filter to a glass plate.

15. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 12, wherein the optical member is formed by adhering an infrared absorbing glass and an optical low-pass filter.

16. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 12, wherein the optical member is formed by adhering an optical low-pass filter having the infrared reflection layer onto a glass plate.

17. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 10, wherein the vibration member comprises an electromechanical transducer.

18. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 17, wherein the electromechanical transducer comprises a piezoelectric element.

19. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 18, wherein the piezoelectric element is made of piezoelectric ceramics.

20. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 10, wherein the optical member comprises an infrared absorbing glass.

21. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 10, wherein the optical member is formed by adhering an infrared absorbing glass to a glass plate.

22. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 21, wherein the infrared absorbing glass is arranged on the optical member on a side of the sealed space.

23. A camera comprising:

a photographing lens which inputs a subject image;

an image pick-up device which comprises a photoelectrically converting surface, and which produces an image signal corresponding to beams of the subject image irradiated onto the photoelectrically converting surface;

a dust-proofing member which is interposed between the photographing lens and the image pick-up device, and which comprises a transparent portion through which a visible light component is transmitted among beams of the subject image input by the photographing lens to the image pick-up device, and which limits transmission of a predetermined high spatial frequency component, the dust-proofing member being opposed to a front of the image pick-up device at a predetermined interval;

a vibration member which is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, and which vibrates the dust-proofing member approximately at a resonance frequency;

a sealing structure which seals a space between the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member;

an image signal processing circuit which converts the image signal produced by the image pick-up device into a signal suitable to recording; and

an infrared reflection layer provided on a light-incident surface of the dust-proofing member.

24. The camera according to claim 23, wherein the dust-proofing member comprises an optical low-pass filter.

25. The camera according to claim 23, wherein the dust-proofing member is formed by adhering an optical low-pass filter to a glass plate.

26. The camera according to claim 23, wherein the dust-proofing member has a function for absorbing an infrared component.

27. The camera according to claim 23, further comprising:

a photographing lens attaching unit for attaching the photographing lens,

wherein the photographing lens is detachable from the photographing lens attaching unit.

28. An image pick-up device unit comprising:

an image pick-up device which comprises a photoelectrically converting surface, and which produces an image signal corresponding to beams irradiated onto the photoelectrically converting surface;

an optical member which is opposed to a front of the image pick-up device at a predetermined interval, and which limits transmission of a predetermined high spatial frequency component;

a vibration member which is arranged at a peripheral portion of the optical member, and which vibrates the optical member approximately at a resonance frequency;

a sealing structure which seals a space between the image pick-up device and the optical member; and

an infrared reflection layer provided on a light-incident surface of the optical member.

29. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 28, wherein the optical member comprises an optical low-pass filter.

30. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 28, wherein the optical member is formed by adhering an optical low-pass filter to a glass plate.

31. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 30, wherein the optical low-pass filter is arranged to a side of the sealed space.

32. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 28, wherein the optical member has a function for absorbing an infrared component.

33. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 28, wherein the optical member is formed by adhering an infrared absorbing glass and an optical low-pass filter onto a glass plate.

34. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 28, wherein the optical member is formed by adhering an infrared absorbing glass and an optical low-pass filter.

35. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 28, wherein the optical member is formed by adhering an optical low-pass filter having the infrared reflection layer onto a glass plate.

36. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 28, wherein the vibration member comprises an electromechanical transducer.

37. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 36, wherein the electromechanical transducer comprises a piezoelectric element.

38. The image pick-up device unit according to claim 37, wherein the piezoelectric element is made of piezoelectric ceramics.

39. A camera comprising:

an image pick-up device which comprises a photoelectrically converting surface, and which produces an image signal corresponding to beams irradiated onto the photoelectrically converting surface;

a dust-proofing member comprising a transparent portion through which a visible light component is transmitted, the transparent portion being opposed to a front of the image pick-up device at a predetermined interval;

a vibration member which is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, and which vibrates the dust-proofing member approximately at a resonance frequency;

a image signal processing circuit which converts the image signal produced by the image pick-up device into a signal suitable to recording; and

an infrared reflection layer provided on a light-incident surface of the dust-proofing member.

40. The camera according to claim 39, further comprising:

a photographing lens attaching unit to which a photographing lens is detachably attachable;

wherein the infrared reflection layer is provided on a side of the dust-proofing member facing the photographing lens attached to the photographing lens attaching unit.

41. The camera according to claim 39, wherein the dust-proofing member comprises an infrared absorbing glass.

42. The camera according to claim 39, wherein the dust-proofing member is formed by adhering an infrared absorbing glass to a glass plate.

43. The camera according to claim 42, wherein the infrared absorbing glass is arranged on the dust-proofing member on a side of the sealed space.

44. A camera comprising:

an image pick-up device which comprises a photoelectrically converting surface, and which produces an image signal corresponding to beams irradiated onto the photoelectrically converting surface;

a dust-proofing member having a transparent portion through which a visible light component is transmitted and which limits transmission of a predetermined high spatial frequency component, the dust-proofing member being opposed to a front of the image pick-up device at a predetermined interval;

a vibration member which is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, and which vibrates the dust-proofing member approximately at a resonance frequency;

a sealing structure which seals a space between the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member;

an image signal processing circuit which converts the image signal produced by the image pick-up device into a signal suitable to recording; and

an infrared reflection layer provided on a light-incident surface of the dust-proofing member.

45. The camera according to claim 44, wherein the dust-proofing member comprises an optical low-pass filter.

46. The camera according to claim 44, wherein the dust-proofing member is formed by adhering an optical low-pass filter to a glass plate.

47. The camera according to claim 44, wherein the dust-proofing member has a function to absorb an infrared component.

48. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising:

a photographing lens attaching unit to which a photographing lens is detachably attachable;

wherein the infrared reflection layer is provided on a side of the dust-proofing member facing the photographing lens attached to the photographing lens attaching unit.

49. A camera comprising:

an image pick-up device which comprises a photoelectrically converting surface, and which produces an image signal corresponding to beams irradiated onto the photoelectrically converting surface;

a dust-proofing member having a transparent portion through which a visible light component is transmitted, the transparent portion being opposed to a front of the image pick-up device at a predetermined interval;

a vibration member which is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, and which vibrates the dust-proofing member approximately at a resonance frequency;

a sealing structure which seals a space between the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member;

an image signal processing circuit which converts the image signal produced by the image pick-up device into a signal suitable to recording; and

an infrared reflection layer provided on a light-incident surface of the dust-proofing member.

50. The camera according to claim 49, wherein the dust-proofing member limits transmission of a predetermined high spatial frequency component.

51. The camera according to claim 49, wherein the dust-proofing member absorbs an infrared component.

52. The camera according to claim 49, further comprising:

a photographing lens attaching unit to which a photographing lens is detachably attachable;

wherein the infrared reflection layer is provided on a side of the dust-proofing member facing the photographing lens attached to the photographing lens attaching unit.